Duarte’s Biggest Annual Celebration - Route 66 Parade, City Picnic, Classic Car Show and Arts & Crafts Show Set for Sept. 18

Duarte’s 15th annual Salute to Route 66 Parade on Sept. 18 will be a celebration of youth with 14 year-old mountain climbing adventurer Jordan Romero leading the way as the parade’s grand marshal.

This year’s parade will step off at 10 a.m. at the northeast corner of Huntington Dr. and Cotter St. and proceed east one mile along Duarte’s historic Route 66.

Ten high school marching bands will participate and compete for trophies, according to parade committee band chairman, Tony Molina, including Duarte High School; Don Lugo High School, Chino; Pomona High School; Mountain View High School, El Monte; San Dimas High School; South El Monte High School; Rim of the World High School, Lake Arrowhead; Diamond Bar High School; Beckman High School, Irvine; John Burroughs High School, Burbank;
In all, the parade will feature more than 1,000 kids of all ages from Duarte and neighboring communities representing schools, churches, and a variety of sports and recreation programs.

The theme of this year’s parade is “Rockin’ & Rollin’ Down Route 66” and doing that in style will be dozens of antique and classic cars, equestrian units, and specialty entries with participants coming from throughout Southern California to join in the celebration of Route 66.

The parade will also welcome home our veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. All veterans are invited to march in the parade. Those interested in participating should contact Parade Chairperson, Lisa Magno at (626) 437-7993.

Immediately following the parade, the public is invited to attend the City picnic at Royal Oaks Park celebrating Duarte’s 53rd anniversary of incorporation from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Festivities surrounding the picnic include a Classic Car Show, where visitors can enjoy a close-up look at the many beautiful classic cars from the parade, Arts and Crafts Show, live entertainment throughout the day, and games, food, and exhibit booths sponsored by local nonprofit groups and organizations. Four live bands will entertain on the picnic main stage: Parkaimoon, playing Top 40 hits; Colton B; Brothers Lee; and L.A. Hip Kidz. Mariachi Los Retonios del Norte will also perform. There will also be special entertainment for kids. On the Children’s Stage will be juggler, magician, and balloon artist Chumis the Clown; young guitarist, Randy Galarzo; and Polynesian dance and Folklorico dance performances. The Theater Parks and Recreation class will also entertain with skits.

Grand Marshal Jordan Romero will be on hand to meet the public and sign autographs on the Car Show side of Royal Oaks Park between 12 and 1 p.m.

Leading the list of businesses helping to support the parade this year are Parade sponsors: City of Duarte, Southern California Edison, and StorAmerica. Breakfast sponsor is Royal Oaks Manor. Mother Road sponsors are: City of Hope, Home Depot, Jan’s Towing, Sonic, Duarte Elks Lodge 1427, Performance Nissan, Burrtec Waste, and Joe’s Place. Other support for the parade is being provided by Simon Rents in Monrovia; 7-Eleven; Auto Zone; Duarte Public Access, Inc. (DCTV); Von’s, and Meguiar’s.

Opened in 1926, Route 66 was the first highway to connect Chicago to Los Angeles. It was nicknamed the Main Street of America because it passed through the heart of communities, including Duarte, for more than 2,000 miles from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1973 when the interstate highway was completed, but the love and lore of Route 66 lives on.

For more information about the parade, visit www.duarteroute66parade.com. For more information about the City Picnic call (626) 357-7931.